Desire Ch. 62 - Promotional Tours

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Chapter 62- Promotional Tours

POV: Emily

Word Count: 2664

June 18, 2010; Friday

  Promotional tours were different because there was less work for me to really do. We’d left home the first and had a full month of just touring around the mid-western states and sometimes the east and west coast to promote the new album. It was good that the last weekend at home we’d spent together and Casey had a weekend to himself, which he’d not come home all weekend! We’d taken the three little ones for the night and Velma came with us Saturday to see the cubs it was a good experience for the children and it was fun. Zac’s new truck now sat in the garage, Toyota tundra king cab in blue. He couldn’t resist the color. It suited him very well. Casey was with us and officially charged as my body guard for the tour when Zac was otherwise busy like right now. He and I were sitting in the quiet room watching them talk to the radio guy whose name I forgot five minutes after hearing it. He was watching them goof off and talk.

I was texting with Velma and Layla at the same time Layla was actually trying to kind of get to know me but not really that badly.

“Having fun there Ems?” Casey asked.

“I wish. I’d rather be at home in bed.”

“You and I both, hey we could just go home.”

“I’m sorry Casey; I don’t have a death wish.”

“You jumped out of a plane, yet you don’t have a death wish?”

I looked at him and giggled. “There was a parachute to save me, unfortunately Zac doesn’t have one of those and you know he’ll complain relentlessly if we go home.”

“I know, but you can’t blame him Emily. He’ll be lost without you and the recent news of what Adam’s been doing is not good.”

I fiddled with the phone a moment. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“I know, you never do, and we’ve all tried to get your feelings and thoughts.”

I sat back and watched Zac make some funny face as he described something about a cowbell. So Casey wasn’t wrong, but what was there to say?

“There isn’t anything for me to say on the subject.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes and I’d like to change the subject. I really don’t want to be pushed on this subject and it’s wise that you listen to Zac.”

“Point taken. So, you’ve been spending a bit of time with Velma the last few months. Am I to assume we did well in hiring her?”

“Velma is good for me. We have a lot in common and she’s good to talk too.”

“You seemed a little peeved before we left though.”

“Well, she was told up front that I wouldn’t really answer personal questions. I told her about Adam and Gary and some of the other things that have happened. Well, we were hanging out at the diner while Zac dotted on the truck to you and she just…”

He looked at me and waited.

“She asked me about our sex life. I mean like point blank wanted to know what we’ve done, what we tried, if we were adventurous. I told her I wouldn’t answer any of them and she got a little huffy, said she’d told me about hers. But, I’d never asked she just told me.”

“Glad Zac wasn’t inside, god he would have probably hidden under the table.”

I giggled. “No, he would have run for it. I was kind of glad we were leaving and she apologized a few days later. I really like talking to her because she’s female.”

“Yeah, I guess it’s weird to talk to men about things.”

“Uh yeah, Zac has no problem talking about anything. He’s good that way and I guess having sisters helped, but yeah I can tell there are some subjects that he just don’t care about.”

“Yeah. I’m cool with everything but I don’t do period talk, keep that to your girlfriends.”

I yawned and leaned back. “I like that she’s there and she’s friendly. Not that the other employees aren’t but they generally see me more as a boss and they don’t want to socialize.”

“Hey, how are you feeling today?”

“Much better, the antibiotics helped kick that sinus infection out. Just a little tired now.”

“You did sleep better the last few nights but the traveling is horrible. I’m glad we’re staying this weekend here. I want a damn bed and the two of you better fucking stay quite.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please Casey, two weeks on a bus?”

“Hell no. You two are not keeping me up and I be damned if I’m going to watch.”

I laughed. “You don’t have to worry; it hasn’t been two weeks anyway.”

He looked at me stunned. “How…where?”

“What, you think we haven’t mastered this by now? I can be quite when I need to be.”

“You guys have had sex on the bus with all of us there?”

“Yes. Course, you were all asleep and yes, I cleaned the area.”

“God I hope. Seriously, you two make rabbits seem tame.”

I felt the vibration and looked down, Layla had asked me how I was feeling and I had replied a few times. She was asking where we were and if Zac could talk. I replied back with he could when he got done and I’d have him text. I guess I wasn’t transparent to Casey anymore either.

“Not good?” he asked.

I looked at him and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What is it Emily?”

I sat back in the seat and watched Zac a little bit, he knew to wait and he was patiently doing so.

“It’s Layla.”

“Zac’s friend Layla?”

“Yes. I’m glad that he has reconnected with her because he really did miss talking to her and its good that we both can have friends we can hang out with because we are together all the time. It’s just Amanda and Craig made an effort to get to know Zac better, she talks to him and she tried to know him as a person and not just the singer and Craig did the same thing. Layla doesn’t seem to want to do that with me. Our conversations are short, there usually kind of awkward, there not in depth, she doesn’t ask me about anything.”

“I thought you two spent a few days together since she opened up.”

“We have, but there the most awkward times. I wouldn’t mind talking about her divorce and what happened, it doesn’t bother me. Yet, she makes it feel like she just doesn’t trust me. Sure, she asked how I was feeling but Zac told her last week I was sick and her real agenda was finding out if he was available to talk.”

“You sound a little jealous there Emily.”

“I’m really not, it’s just I guess for someone who says she’s his best friend she’d want to know his wife. Do you know she specifically asks him to come alone when they have lunch? I don’t know how to make her see that I’m not mad at her, I’m not upset or afraid for them to be alone.”

“Have you told her that?”

“Yes. After Hanson Day she came over and I told her that I was not Kate, I’m not afraid that Zac will run off with her I know he won’t. He knows where to find me and he knows I’m not saying no, well, unless I’m sick as hell. I told her it didn’t bother me but her indifference on getting to know me does and I feel like eventually it’s going to cause problems.”

“It will eventually cause problems, I mean your fine for now but if she keeps insisting on private meetings and not wanting to be around you it’ll cause issues. Either with you and her or you two, or him and her, I can understand her hesitance with Kate because she was a jealous bitch. Fan so much as smiled at him and he was sleeping with her.”

“I know. But, I’m not Kate. I don’t mind if he hugs fans or shakes hands, I mean sure I’d mind if he was kissing them I’d mind if their hands or his were in areas they shouldn’t be.”

“I would hate to see you pissed off over that.”

“It wouldn’t be pretty that’s for sure. But Layla just seems to be stuck that I’m Kate and I’m not.  I guess I just have to continue to show her I’m not. You know when were at the Hanson store she asked me if I would do him like her.”

“She did?”

“Yes. I told her the truth that I wouldn’t do that.”

He sat back and I was watching him when he smiled. “Why not invite her over for a weekend? Let her see how you are with him. You aren’t Kate that’s for sure. You know how to help him improve instead of tearing him down. Although, you like to boost his ego a bit too much sometimes but I can deal with that.”

“Hey, he would have never enjoyed his birthday present without me.”

“True. I assume the Christmas gift still works well?”

“Why would you say that?”

“He doesn’t usually sound pathetic and whiney when he’s with you. I heard him begging you, what the hell were you doing, torturing him?”

“Maybe I was. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

He smiled and they finally stood up. We waited for them to exit and joined them.

“Hey Ems! Someone asked about you!” Taylor said.

“Me? Why me?”

“The caller wanted to know if you’d been driven insane by cowbells.” Ike said.

“Hah! Insane is an understatement.” I replied.

“Exactly what I told them and I am starving so we have to find something.” Zac said.

“You’re always starving.” Casey said.

Zac punched him lightly. “Not always.”

We found a nice diner down the road and took seats around a table in the back. I put Zac against the window just because I didn’t want the sun on me and we ordered before anyone spoke.

“Aww, so nice of you Zac to take the sunburn for her.” Taylor said.

“I probably need the sun. I think I forgot what it looked liked there for a while.”

“Where to from here?” Ike asked.

“Hotel! We don’t leave Austin until sometime Monday; there is a late radio interview.” I said.

“Sweet, we should hit up six flags then while we’re here.” Isaac said.

The rest of us stared at him, but Taylor was the first to speak.  “Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s been ages since we went to a theme park. It’ll be a good way to relax and just kind of have downtime. I’d invite the wives down but Nikki just had Monroe 10 days ago and she can’t ride anything, Natalie could though.”

Taylor kind of looked away. “Natalie can’t ride anything right now.”

We all looked at him. “Why not?” I asked.

“She’s pregnant again, due in December.” He said.

“Are you serious?” Zac asked.

“Yes. She found out late last month and we wanted to wait until after three month mark. She said she wants another boy. I don’t know why.”

“Congratulations, to both of you. How is Monroe?” Casey asked.

“Nikki has sent me dozens of pictures since we left and he’s doing great. Everett is being a very good big brother.”

I stared at the menu as Ike talked about how Everett was; we were at home when she went into labor thankfully. So we’d all gotten to see him and hold him. Yet, I knew that wasn’t possible for us until Adam was taken care of. I couldn’t and wouldn’t give him the one thing that would surely bring me to him.

“So, amusement park?” Zac asked.

“I’m up for it.” Casey said.

“Obviously I am.” Ike said.

“I think it’ll be great.” Taylor said.

“I’m up for it, Emily what about you?”

“I uh….I’ve went once with George and my brothers and I’m afraid I’ll be pretty worthless.”

“Why?” Zac asked.

“I don’t like roller coasters.”

“They’re fun!” Casey said.

“How would you know? You’re afraid of heights.”

“I can handle coasters; I just can’t look over the side.”

“You will jump from a plane, but you won’t ride a coaster?” Taylor asked.

“Call George, I rode one with them and screamed bloody murder the whole time. I will wait in line with you, but I’m not getting on.”

“That’s just not fun.” Ike said.

“That won’t happen; you talked me into jumping out of a plane.” Zac said.

“I didn’t make you.”

“She has a point there Zac.” Taylor said.

“Yeah, there is other stuff we can do there shows, non-coaster rides, water rides.”

“I don’t have a bathing suit with me.”

“You won’t need one, just wear good fitting clothes.” Taylor said.

“Ok. So this release party…” I said.

“I don’t know why we thought of this but we’re doing the video for Thinking about something and we’re thinking crowd participation. So, we’ve got the video posted for the dance and invited people out. We figure while there here we can do a release party. Members will have the chance that Friday afternoon to hear the whole album with us and they can ask questions about it. The next day we’ll shoot the video and there will be a space for people to hear the album and then Sunday we’ll do another listening party with everyone, but no questions. We’ll just commentary each song.” Isaac said.

“Sounds…complicated.” Casey said.

“It’s been a bit weird to plan the video, but we want to do this. Involve fans and blues brother’s style and Ray Charles reference.” Taylor said.

“You’ll play that well.” Casey said.

“It’ll be a busy weekend and then shortly after that is the tour, so it’s going to be tough but productive.” Ike said.

The waiter brought our orders over and we had a late lunch before we headed to the hotel and got comfortable.

“Hey Zac, text Layla.” I said.

“Ok.” He replied.

I went to the bathroom to shower and change clothes and then Casey followed me. I fell down on the foot of the bed and he was steadily texting her.

“Bad day for her?” I asked.

“Kind of, Mark tried to call her and she’s freaking out over that.”

I nodded and flipped the TV on, Casey came out in boxers and fell onto the bed and he was asleep moments later. I flipped channels aimlessly, thinking about what he’d said. I wasn’t sure how to approach the subject with Zac because Layla was a great friend to him when Kate was being a bitch. I felt the bed shift and then felt his fingertips move my hair.

“About those coasters…”

“Nope, not going to happen, there is no deal you can make that will get me on one again.”

I felt his lips on my neck.  “Are you sure about that?”

“I am and if we wake him up he might just chains us both down.”

“Nothing under the sun?” he asked.

“Not a damn thing, I’m not getting on one.”

He sat down behind me and pulled me back some. “Would you rather you and I do something then?”

“No. I can wait by the gate for you guys; really Zac 3 minutes won’t be bad. I can stand and wait.”

He tightened his arms up some. “I love you.”

I smiled. “I love you too.”

I leaned back against him and apparently fell asleep, as I woke up when he tried to lay me down and at that point I just stayed up. We got a late snack and we all went to bed early, the park opened at ten and they wanted to be there on time.